Electric robot toy



Sept. 3, 1963 J- v. FERRIIOT 3,102,363

ELECTRIC ROBOT TOY Filed Jan. 8, 1962 INVENTOR. 2 JOSEPH V. FERRlOT ATTYS.

United States Patent New Mexico Filed Jan. 8, 1%2, Ser. No. 164,870 7 Claims. (Cl. 46-244) The present invention relates to toy cars, especially to a robot or automatically driven car which is adapted to steer an eccentric course, and to reverse its direction of movement when it strikes an object.

There have been various types of electrically driven toy cars provided heretofore, and it is important that these cars be of a relatively sturdy construction, that they have a satisfactory service life, and that they provide entertainment when in use.

It also is very desirable that toys be relatively inexpensive, and if the purchaser of the toy can be required to do some of the assembly of the car, the child learns something about the toy and its structure, and also benefits by being able to purchase the unassembled toy at a lower price.

The general object of the present invention is to provide a novel and improved toy car, which car is electrically propelled and is characterized by the controllable steering path of movement of the car, and by the automatic reversing of the drive of the car when it strikes an article.

Another object of the invention is to provide a removable simulated driver for the toy car and where the driver functions as a stop means to permit the car motor to be stopped whereas otherwise the car motor will normally be continuously driven in either a forward or a reverse direction as long as power is supplied thereto.

Another object of the invention is to provide a toy car which is rnade from a minimum of parts than can rela tively easily be assembled by a child, and where a cam disc is provided to control the steering action of the car.

Yet another object of the invention is to use a lot of corresponding pins or parts, and a unitary type hinged plastic unit for steering action in a toy car.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages of the present invention will be made more apparent as the speciiication proceeds.

Attention now is particularly directed to the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of a toy car embodying the principles of the invention, with portions of the car re moved and other parts shown in vertical section;

FIG. 2 is a bottom plan view of the toy car of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a bottom plan view of the toy car of FIG. 1 with a number of parts thereon removed and with the battery box and its movement being indicated; and

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary vertical section taken on line 4--4 of MG. 2.

Broadly speaking, the present invention relates to an automatically controlled ear comprising a car frame, wheels journalled on the car frame, an electric motor carried by the car frame and operatively engaging at least a wheel to propel the car, relatively heavy battery means slidably carried by the car frame and having only movement along the longitudinal axis thereof, motion limiting means operatively engaging the battery means to limit its movement in both directions but being variable to limit such movement in only one direction, and contact and circuit means operatively engaging the electric motor and battery means to connect them for drive of the electric motor in forward or reverse directions only when the battery means is at one of its two motion limited positions.

With particular attention to the details of the structures shown in the drawings, a car or vehicle 1 embodying the principles of the invention is shown. Such car includes a vehicle body and frame, or a car frame 2 therein that can be made from any suitable material, such as plastic or metal, as desired. The car frame 2 provides a plurality of brackets 3, 3 adjacent the rear portion thereof in which a suitable axle 4 can be journalled to position a pair of Wheels 5 on the car. Front wheels 6, 6 are positioned in a difierent manner for steering action and to this end they are supported on stub shafts '7 formed as an integral unit with a tie bar 8. This tie bar 8 includes axially extending sections 9 and 10 that are pivotally connected to the re mainder of the tie bar assembly and which have vertical holes 11 extending therethrough so that the sections 9 and I10 can seat on shoulders 11a on support posts 12 usually integral with the car frame 2;. Pins 13 extend through the holes 11 and engage the posts 12 to secure the tie bar and wheel assembly to the car frame 2 by frictional engagement of the headed pins 13 with the holes 11 and holes 13a provided in the posts 12.

A conventional electric motor, or drive unit 14 is also secured to the car frame 2, usually on the lower or under surface thereof, and it comprises a DC. motor adapted to be driven in either forward or reverse directions depending upon the energization power polarity. This electric motor 14 has a drive gear 15 secured to the motor shaft. Such drive gear 15 in turn engages a driven gear 15 suitably secured to the axle 4 whereby the wheels 5, 5 can be driven in either forward or reverse direction to control the movement of the car or vehicle 1.

It is another feature of the present invention that automatic, or semi-automatic control means are provided for driving this car or vehicle 1 in either forward or reverse directions, and to facilitate terminating the drive of the toy when desired. To achieve this end, a bottom plate 17 is removably secured to the car frame 2 on the lower surface thereof by means of lugs 18 and It? laterally protruding from the bottom plate 17 and seated in rneans, such as slots 20 formed in a lower portion of the car frame or body 2.. Usually sufficient flexibility is provided in this car frame 2 to permit the lugs 18 and 19 to be snapped into the slots 29 formed therefor.

The car or vehicle 1 is adapted to have conventional power supply means, such as a pair of batteries 21 and 22 carried thereby, and these relatively heavy battery means are positioned in a carrier, or cover 2.3 that has a pair of laterally outwardly extending flanges 24 and 25 formed thereon. These flanges 24 and 25 engage overhanging, usually L-shaped brackets 26 and 27 that normally would be formed integrally with the bottom plate 17 and extend upwardly therefrom in parallel spaced relation so as to receive the carrier or cover 23 for controlled sliding movement along the longitudinal axis of the car frame or body 2.

In order to obtain the desired automatic functioning in the car 1 to have it be driven either forwardly or in reverse, such action is made dependent upon the position of the carrier cover 23 in its longitudinal path on the car frame axis. Normally the inertia of the vehicle 1 and of articles thereon, when in motion, is sufficient, if the car is stopped suddenly, to cause the batteries 21 and 22 and the carrier 23 to slide longitudinally with relation to the car 1. Circuit and connecting means are operatively associated with the car frame 2 and cover 23 to obtain the desired reversal of drive of the electric motor 14 on this sudden stoppage of the vehicle 1, for example, if it strikes an obstruction in its path of movement and thus to automatically back away therefrom. To achieve this end, suitable members, such as spring contacts 2% and 29 are operatively carried by the cover 23 and extend therefrom to provide resilient contacts 30 and 31 that are positioned externally of the carrier, or cover member 23. Normally, when a pair of batteries El and 22 are used, a connecting member 32 is positioned in the cover 23 to connect the terminal of one battery to a terminal of the adjacent battery for series connection of these batteries. Power is taken from the batteries 21 and 22, or equivalents, by a plurality of tubular contacts or terminals 33, 34 and 35. These tubular terminals 33, 34 and 35 preferably are telescoped over pin members (not shown) that may be formed integrally with the car frame 2. Suitable leads 36 and 37 extend from the terminals 33 and 34 to connect it to the electric motor 14 for drive action. Such lead 36 also connects to the terminal 35 by a jumper lead 38. For forward operation of the car or vehicle 1, for example, the terminals 33 and 35 would be the positive terminals, and the terminal 34 would be the negative terminal. It will be seen that these contacts 30 and 31 on the cover 23 can be engaged with either the terminals 33 and 34, or the terminals 34 and 35 forming power outlets to the motor. The polarity of the energy supplied to the terminal 34 can be varied by the different axially spaced positions of the carrier 23 on the bottom plate 17. Any suitable member, such as a stop 39, may be formed integrally with the car frame 2 to limit the forward movement of the cover 23 on the bottom plate when the car is in operation. Hence when this stop 39 engages the cover 23, or when other means have limited the forward movement of the carrier 23, at that time the motor will be driven to move the car 1 rearwardly. Now when the rear portion of the car 1 would strike an object, the inertia of the relatively heavy battery means on the car frame 2 will cause them to slide to the rear and break the engagement of the terminal 33 and contact 31, and re-establishing drive to the electric motor in an opposite polarity direction when the terminals 34 and 35 contact the contacts 30 and 31, respectively.

The motion of the carrier or cover 23 towards the rear of the car frame 2 is normally controlled by a simulated, or toy driver 40. This driver 40 has a stud 41 extending downwardly therefrom received in a hole or aperture in the car frame 2 and with the stud 41 then extending down vetically of the car frame to a position adjacent the rear end of the carrier 23 to limit its movement towards the rear of the vehicle. However, when it is desired to terminate the drive for the electric motor 14, then the driver 40 can be removed from its seat in the car frame 2 and at such time the carrier 23 can move rearwardly in the car frame 2 a sufficient distance as to break the contacts 30 and 31 clear of operative engagement with the terminals 33, 34 and 35, as best indicated in FIG. 3. Hence, drive of the vehicle will be terminated, but can be commenced by shaking the toy to slide the carrier 23 forwardly.

It is another feature of the present invention that the car or vehicle will be steered as it moves along a support surface. This novel feature in the present toy is obtained by means of a control cam 42 that is journalled on the bottom plate 17 by means of a support pin 43. The control cam 42 may have a concave peripheral surface that engages a drive member, such as a rubber band 44, that also engages the axle 4 to drive the control cam when the vehicle 1 is in motion. Rotary motion of the control cam, or disc 42 is turned into steering action by a control lever 45 journalled on the bottom plate through a headed pin 46. The steering lever 45 has a suitable pin or cam arm 47 thereon that engages an irregular continuous recess 48 formed in one face of the control disc 44. Hence as the control cam 42 rotates, the position of the lever 45 will be varied, and the arcuate motion provided at its front end is transmitted to the tie bar assembly 8, as by means of a pin 49 on and extending downwardly of the tie bar assembly and received in an elongate slot 50 formed in the forward end of the control lever 45 so as to have some lost motion therebetween. Thus, as the lever 45 is moved laterally of the car 1 by the cam engagement between the lever 45 and the control disc 42, the front wheels 6, 6 in the car are turned through controlled arcs because of the hinge connection provided between the different components of the tie bar assembly.

It will be seen that the toy car 1 can be sold in assembled, or preferably unassembled form. By use of a readily assembled bottom plate 17, and by uniform pins 13, 43 and 46 frictionally positioned in the toy, it can be readily assembled and disassembled.

The toy car 1 will provide exciting, interesting action over a long service life with only occasional change of the battery means used.

From the foregoing, it is believed that it will be seen that a novel and improved toy has been provided by the invention, and that the objects of the invention have been achieved.

While one complete embodiment of the invention has been disclosed herein, it will be appreciated that modification of this particular embodiment of the invention may be resorted to without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In an automatically controlled toy car,

a car frame,

wheels journalled on said car frame, an electric motor carried by said car frame and operatively engaging at least a wheel to propel the car,

relatively heavy battery means slidably carried by said car frame and having movement only along the longitudinal axis thereof,

motion limiting means operatively engaging said battery means to limit its movement in both directions but being variable to limit such movement in only one direction, and

contact and circuit means operatively engaging said electric motor and battery means to connect them for drive of said electric motor in forward or reverse direction only when said battery means is at one of its two motion limited positions.

2. In an automatically controlled toy car,

a car frame,

wheels operatively journalled on said car frame,

an electric motor carried by said car frame and operatively engaging at least a wheel to propel the car,

relatively heavy battery means slidably carried by said car frame and having only movement along the longitudinal axis thereof.

motion limiting means operatively engaging said battery means to limit its movement in both directions but being variable to limit such movement in only one direction, and

contact and circuit means operatively engaging and connecting said electric motor and battery means for drive of said electric motor in forward or reverse direction only when said battery means is at one of its two motion limited positions.

said battery means being movable by inertia from one extremity of its position to the other extremity of its position when the car strikes an article to reverse the direction of drive of said electric motor.

3. In 1311 automatically controlled toy car,

a car frame,

wheels journalled on said car frame,

an electric motor carried by said car frame and operatively engaging at least a wheel to propel the car,

said car frame being adapted to receive relatively heavy battery means and slidably position it for movement along the lon-gitudial axis of said car frame,

motion limiting means for operatively engaging any said battery means to limit its movement in both directions but being variable to limit such movement in only one direction, and

contact and circuit means for operatively engaging said electric motor and any said battery means to connect them for drive of said electric motor in forward or reverse direction only when said battery means is at one of its two motion limited positions.

4. An automatically controlled vehicle comprising a car body and frame including a bottom plate,

wheels opcratively journalled on said car body and frame,

an electric motor on said car body and frame operatively engaging at least one of said wheels to drive it and the vehicle,

a carrier member slidably engaging said car body and frame for movement only longitudinally thereof and being limited in movement in one direction,

battery means for said electric motor received in said carrier member,

a stop member removably associated with said car body and frame to limit the movement of said carrier member in the other direction, and

electrical contact, switch and connecting means operatively associated with said carrier member and electric motor to operate said motor in forward or reverse directions when said carrier member is at either of its extreme operative positions dependent upon the relative position of said carrier member on said car body and frame.

said carrier member being "adapted to move from one extreme position to another by inertia when the vehicle is moving and is suddenly stopped,

the drive of said electric motor being terminated by removal of said stop member and moving said carrier member past its one extreme operative position.

5. An automatic-ally controlled vehicle comprising a car body and frame including a removable bottom plate,

wheels operatively journalled on said car body and frame,

an electric motor positioned on said car body and dframe operatively engaging at least one of said wheels to [drive it and the vehicle,

a battery carrier member slidably engaging said bottom plate for movement only longitudinally thereof and being limited in movement in one direction,

a stop member removably associated with said car body and frame to limit the movement of said carrier member in the other direction, and

electrical contact, switch and connecting means operatively associated with said carrier member and electric motor to operate said motor in forwand or reverse directions when said carrier member is at either of its extreme operative positions dependent upon the relative position of said carrier member on said car body and frame,

said carrier member being adapted to move from one extreme position to another by inertia when the vehicle is moving and is suddenly stopped.

6. A toy car as in claim 1 where a control disc is journalled on said car frame, the front wheels of the toy car are pivotally positioned for steering action, means engage said control disc to rotate it when the toy car moves, and steering means connect said control disc to the front wheels for controlled steering action.

7. A toy car as in claim 6 Where a tie bar assembly operatively positions said front wheels, and identical members are used to position said tie bar assembly, control disc, and steering means operably in the toy car.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,643,903 Prossner Sept. 27, 1927 2,683,956 Conte July 20, 1954 2,921,408 Leblic Jan. 19, 1960 2,961,797 Bonano Nov. 29, 1960 

1. IN AN AUTOMATICALLY CONTROLLED TOY CAR, A CAR FRAME, WHEELS JOURNALLED ON SAID CAR FRAME, AN ELECTRIC MOTOR CARRIED BY SAID CAR FRAME AND OPERATIVELY ENGAGING AT LEAST A WHEEL TO PROPEL THE CAR, RELATIVELY HEAVY BATTERY MEANS SLIDABLY CARRIED BY SAID CAR FRAME AND HAVING MOVEMENT ONLY ALONG THE LONGITUDINAL AXIS THEREOF, MOTION LIMITING MEANS OPERATIVELY ENGAGING SAID BATTERY MEANS TO LIMIT ITS MOVEMENT IN BOTH DIRECTIONS BUT BEING VARIABLE TO LIMIT SUCH MOVEMENT IN ONLY ONE DIRECTION, AND CONTACT AND CIRCUIT MEANS OPERATIVELY ENGAGING SAID ELECTRIC MOTOR AND BATTERY MEANS TO CONNECT THEM FOR DRIVE OF SAID ELECTRIC MOTOR IN FORWARD OR REVERSE DIRECTION ONLY WHEN SAID BATTERY MEANS IS AT ONE OF ITS TWO MOTION LIMITED POSITIONS. 